Secretary-General joins global conversation

13 September 2011, New York

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today participated in a global discussion streamed live on Facebook, Weibo, Livestream and UN Webcast. Juju Chang of ABC News moderated and passed on questions to the Secretary-General, forwarded from the public via different social media platforms.

As world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the annual UN General Assembly, this conversation offered an opportunity for the public to get answers straight from the top on issues of concern to them. As of 12 September, over 5,500 questions had been posted on Twitter, and on Weibo alone, over 80,000 messages about the event had been exchanged.

The Secretary-General answered a number of important questions including on the Millennium Development Goals, the peace-keeping efforts of the UN, gender equality, climate change and sustainable development.

Ban Ki-moon also shared insights into his personal life; the dreams from when he was growing up in Korea and the beacon of hope that the UN represented; as well as the inspiration and energy he gets today from his grandchildren.